I read something recently, that reminded me of several books I have read about "spiritual disciplines". They were fine up to a point, but overall I think they can often miss the point: what's the *goal* of these spiritual disciplines? The language in these books is often exclusively focused on what an individual does privately, on an individual's relationship with God. But where's the community?
These days I think it's more important to focus on the more "practical" and communal disciplines, like attending church, extending hospitality, and reading/studying scripture with others (rather than private study or just being instructed by one person). In particular, reading through the Old Testament with my kids has been a really remarkable, exciting, and encouraging endeavor for everyone involved. A simpler translation like the NIRV helps this work.
And as for the next level of "disciplines", there's an entire congregation of people to know, love, encourage, and fellowship with. But also to forgive, reconcile, comfort in sickness or loss, or even just visit. 1 Corinthians 13 is an example of what love looks like in community, being patient and kind with one another, keeping no record of wrongs, bearing together, believing together, hoping together, enduring together.
Those are the disciplines that really shine when things get tough. When people have burdens, those relationships allow us to "bear one another's burdens". Where we can say, "blest be the ties that bind..."
